Tragic end to a parachute stunt by Felix Baumgartner (56): The world-famous Austrian space jumper died in an accident in Italy, according to reports by state television station RAI.

Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner is dead. The Salzburg native died in a paragliding accident on Thursday in Porto Sant’Elpidio on the Italian Adriatic coast. According to Italian broadcaster RAI, the 56-year-old extreme athlete apparently lost control of his aircraft at around 4 p.m. due to a sudden illness and crashed into the pool of a hotel complex.

A young woman was struck by Baumgartner’s body and suffered minor injuries. According to initial reports, her condition is stable. However, help came too late for the extreme athlete – initial information suggests that he was already dead before impact.

The news of the death of one of the most famous adventurers of our time is currently causing great sadness around the world.

A life between heaven and earth

Felix Baumgartner was more than a daredevil – he was a pioneer of the skies, a frontrunner of what is possible, a man who moved a little further away from earth with each of his daring actions.

His most spectacular achievement became iconic: on October 14, 2012, Baumgartner jumped from a height of 39,045 meters – at the edge of space – from a capsule in the stratosphere above New Mexico. The “Red Bull Stratos” jump made him world famous. He was the first person to break the sound barrier in free fall without an airplane, reaching a speed of 1357.6 km/h. It was a milestone in aviation and a triumph for extreme sports.

Baumgartner had already caused a sensation with other spectacular feats: he was the first person to cross the English Channel with a carbon wing without motorized assistance. He also jumped from the 88th floor of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and completed base jumps from the world’s tallest buildings – often on the edge of legality.

From tank driver to air hero

Born in Salzburg in 1969, Baumgartner’s career began in the Austrian Armed Forces, where he was initially trained as a tank driver and later as a parachutist. His talent for flying and his passion for the extreme became apparent early on.

In 1997, he was discovered by Red Bull – the beginning of a long partnership that not only secured him financially, but also brought him worldwide attention. With the support of the energy drink manufacturer, Baumgartner realized his wildest dreams over two decades – often at the edge of life and death.

Last flight over the Adriatic

Baumgartner was always out and about with his paraglider – most recently in Italy. The flight over Porto Sant’Elpidio was supposed to be routine, a practice run he had completed hundreds of times before. But this time, it ended tragically.

The exact cause of death has not yet been determined, but a medical emergency is considered likely.

Image: APA